September 29, 2025
MANILA — Senator Rodante Marcoleta on Monday challenged the application of parliamentary courtesy that spared former Ako Bicol representative Zaldy Co from attending the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on alleged irregularities in flood control projects.
“Is it written in stone? Is it absolute?” Marcoleta asked during the Senate session on September 29, referring to the long-standing practice of interparliamentary courtesy.
According to the senator, inviting Co would not necessarily violate the principle. “Interparliamentary courtesy is not breached if he is merely invited. For instance, just an invitation letter. I did that with Congressman Toby Tiangco. It was voluntary — if he came, that was fine; if not, that was also fine,” he explained.
Co is among those implicated in the flood control anomalies but has denied the accusations. He earlier said he would address the allegations in the proper forum rather than in the Senate inquiry.
